National Service returning to the UK?

[TheQuirkyMaker]

Due to the threat of Russian aggression and US indifference, Europe is having to re-arm. France is going to re-introduce national service (compulsory conscription of youngsters into the armed forces for 2 years). Am I right in thinking UK young people won't accept this?

No one has suggested it. You're just trying to stir an argument.

Think it’s going to be voluntary in France, isn’t it?

I would leave before serving this country

The army has been clearly they don’t want it so it’s a moot question.

I think lots of 18y olds and 21y old uni graduates who can't find jobs at the moment would do it for 2 years if they were promised training and marketable skills eg HGV licence, NVQs in communications, electrical engineering, learn to drive to passing test etc. There's not much else for them at the moment.

France is voluntary at the moment
Other counties are looking at it Norway Netherlands Sweden Germany
We will have to as there is a real threat from Russia
I think it would good to help people to be independent and be far more resilient

The last thing the Army teaches is independence. It's basically boarding school with every aspect of your life managed for you.

DH had a terrible time adjusting to having actual responsiblities when he left. He also had a big shock at how hard you're expected to work in a "proper job". His time on active service was tough, but the rest of the time not so much.

“Am I right in thinking UK young people won't accept this?”

I think the angle is more “am I right that the UK government won’t offer this”.

The armed forces have made it clear they aren’t resourced to do this. Young people won’t “accept” being removed from their adult lives and responsibilities to get yelled at and eat bad food for no money. You can’t expect a 25yo earning £30k a year and paying a mortgage to up sticks to Salisbury for 2 years while her house is repossessed. Lots of young people would volunteer for a 2 year funded military programme with accommodation and training (lots sign up for the 4 year as it is) and a shorter experience with greater leniency on fitness and medical entry requirements would suit a lot of people.

What people massively rejected to was the pre election crap version of national service where 16-18 yo were supposed to spend 1 weekend a month litter picking and washing ambulances so completely scuppering their ability to do weekend paid work and save for their post 18 plans.

Forget young people, the Army won't accept it. That's why it was ended in the first place back in the late 50s.

I’ve got family in the armed forces and they don’t want national service. They want people who actually want to be there which is fair enough given they are literally putting their lives on the line.

It seems to have worked for Israel.

🎣 10/10 Congrats!

Young people in the UK won't accept French national service, you're quite right...

Considering the issues of male violence, lack of respect etc, I think it could be the making of many young men.

It won't happen.

UK is not a patriotic country anymore. We don't teach love for your country at school - this is something rather to be ashamed of due to the colonial history. This is in contrast to e.g. Eastern Europe where they really understand and feel the threat and patriotism has been always embedded in the school curriculum. I remember in high school we had a subject called 'Civil Defence' and we learnt how to create an effective resistance movement during an occupation, how to use a gas mask and when we turned 18 we were taken once day to a shooting range in a forest where everybody was given a cadet rifle and practiced shooting. People are also taught to be strong and resilient and always fight an enemy because others' lives might depend on you, so a different mindset totally. That was 20 years ago, state school, post Soviet block. I guess we would have to start from this here before even dreaming about our young people willing to risk their lives for their country.

Why do you live here if you hate it so much that you wouldn’t defend it?

Bold prediction - it will be reintroduced at some moment and there will be dual purpose. Part will "voluntarily" decide to go through military service path - good. The rest will be roped in civil service for the same time - mostly care work.

But presumably would expect other people to fight on your behalf if we’re invaded?

nice.

They have it in Greece, where I lived for a few years. Greek friends who had to do it told me how many of them took part-time jobs in hospitality during their national service because the army just didn't have enough for them to do or to occupy their time.

France isn’t, they are simply making youngsters receive information about being in the military and in the future all will receive a medical to determine if they are fit to serve. Nobody will be forced (under current plans)

I saw France going to advise it or military service to their young people and the Tories floated it a couple of years ago but I see no news it is being done here.

The proposal was even worse. It was 18 year olds so those at university or already working. Many young people can only afford to go to university if thy work all hours they can at weekends.

I would have been in favour of some kind of national/voluntary service for 16-17 year olds if it it had been held during the school/college week. When I was at 6th form Wednesday afternoons were for sport/activities/volunteering.

I was very against anything at weekends/evenings that impacted on youngsters being able to earn money or those with caring responsibilities etc.

Voluntary in France. If it comes to UK and its voluntary and pay offered is good think quite a lot of young people would volunteer.